Hot Topics:

All about the DVR: How Emmy nominees watch TV

Sandy Cohen AP Entertainment Writer

Updated:
07/10/2014 04:26:57 PM EDT

Click photo to enlarge

This image released by FX shows Billy Bob Thornton as Lorne Malvo in a scene from "Fargo." Thornton was nominated for an Emmy Award for best actor in a miniseries or movie on Thursday, July 10, 2014. The 66th Primetime Emmy Awards will be presented Aug. 25 at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/FX, Chris Large)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Before Emmy nominations were announced Thursday, the president of the television academy declared that "quality television is now platform-agnostic," with awards-worthy content distributed by broadcast, cable and Internet outlets.

TV's top talents — the stars and producers nominated this year — say they prefer shows large and on-demand. Most rely on digital video recorders to track their favorite programs, and avoid watching on tablets and smartphones.

"I have a big-screen TV," said Kate Mulgrew, nominated for her role as Red on "Orange Is the New Black." ''That's how I always prefer to watch television."

"I'm a DVR person most of the time," said Anna Chlumsky, who was nominated for her supporting role on "Veep." ''It's funny, because of 'Veep' and because of 'Game of Thrones,' Sunday night is still HBO appointment TV for me. If we can get home on time for it, then I watch it at home at the prescribed time."

Matt LeBlanc, nominated for his starring role in Showtime's "Episodes," uses his DVR, but still likes channel surfing.

Billy Bob Thornton, who describes himself as "kind of a TV junkie," likes DVDs and the DVR, but he watched his own show, FX's "Fargo" on its regular night.

"I watched it as an audience member. I just watched it every Tuesday night," he said. "I didn't get the DVDs ahead of time from the studio or whatever. When it was over, I was a little sad. What am I gonna do next Tuesday night?"

Advertisement

"So You Think You Can Dance" host Cat Deeley admits to occasional binge-viewing.

"I'll buy an entire series and I'll have a weekend where I don't get out of my pajamas, I barely brush my teeth, and I just do back to back (episodes) and sit there wallowing in my own filth," she said. The last series she indulged in this way? "Breaking Bad."

Allison Tolman, nominated for her supporting role in "Fargo," said, "I hardly ever watch anything in real time anymore."

"I watch a lot of things that night but a little bit after they've aired," she said. "I also am quite a binge-watcher... I just started 'Game of Thrones' since I hadn't seen it yet, so now I'm watching one episode after the other on demand."

Welcome to your discussion forum: Sign in with a Disqus account or your social networking account for your comment to be posted immediately, provided it meets the guidelines. (READ HOW.)
Comments made here are the sole responsibility of the person posting them; these comments do not reflect the opinion of The Sun. So keep it civil.